An online journal celebrating the joys of living bare with pride! This site usually publishes every Monday and Friday. I may be irreverent but I am no way irrelevant! My preferred personal pronouns are he, him, his.
Given the body language, physical contact and hair-styles of the naked/nude men presented in the vintage photos below, there remains little doubt over the authenticity of these pictures. The bigotry and disgust directed towards any hint of same gender love supports their validity. Remember, “back in the day” the idea of “gay-for-pay” had practically no audience whatsoever! Segregation was the law of the land in every state except Illinois and homosexuality (gay) was viewed as severe perversion!
Men nude together, circa early 1970’s!
Introduction and Justification:
As a part of ReNude Pride’s annual observance of USA Black History Month, this photo-essay offers proof that decades before the 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots (SIR) heralded the modern gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer+ (GLBTQ+) civil and equal rights movement, the USA African-American culture ventured into limited existence. General society accepted, condoned, endorsed and practiced homophobic policies and prejudices during this era. Government, law enforcement, and religious institutions extolled and sanctioned this discriminatory behaviour, but bravery and courageous African-American GLBTQ+ pioneers cautiously followed hearts and souls down the trail to happiness.
A couple together, circa middle 1960’s!
These photographs confirm not only their sexuality during repression; they also provide evidence of their comfort and practice of their nakedness! Indeed: the pilgrims of bare practitioners!
Sharing a bench, early 1960’s!
These historic and vintage photographs discredit and dispel the popular and widespread myth that the African-American GLBTQ+ community and culture didn’t exist before SIR in 1969. Bare practitioners (same gender loving naturist/nudist) are inherently and naturally African-American as they are with other ethnicities and races everywhere!
Embrace and kiss!
The above couple, from the early 1960’s exemplify the growing acceptance of their same gender loving status among themselves and their community of peers. It didn’t happen overnight but slowly, it began to gain momentum as the “age of love” started to emerge onto the popular culture.
Nude encouragement with the liberation colours!
ReNude Pride appreciates, salutes and supports the bold and proud initiative of the men featured here today! Their efforts and energy made it possible for advances in GLBTQ+ community and culture everywhere!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Tuesday, February 7, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!”
The month of February, annually, is designated Black History Month throughout the USA. Here at ReNude Pride, in addition to the historical feature, we also honour the same gender loving (gay) and the bare practitioner (naturist/nudist) lifestyles of the African-American culture. In addition, we recognize that this culture is not restricted to focus only one month out of the entire year!
February of every year!
In 1607, the first permanent English settlement was established in the “New World” (North America as it is known today). The location was Jamestown, Virginia – which remains a tourist attraction. The first slaves captured from Africa were brought here and sold or traded in late August, 1619. Thus established, slavery was a binding and legal institution throughout the colonial era and up until the conclusion of the American Civil War (fought over the slavery issue) in 1865.
Despite the Declaration of Independence stating the basic “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” clause, the United States of America did not recognize slaves as people but instead as property. Slaves were denied (legally) property rights, education, freedom to travel and most importantly, their dignity. It was as though these captives from Africa did not exist. This situation implanted the idea of racism that remains a major issue in the USA legal, political and social structures even at this time. The killing of a slave – for whatever reason – was not considered murder nor a crime. The stealing of a slave wasn’t seen as kidnapping and/or enforced detention but rather viewed as property theft.
For almost a century and a half after the US civil war, the history of African-Americans was, for all intents and purposes, completely ignored here in almost every public school system. In the minds of educators, administrators and the general public, “they” (Black Americans) came here as slaves and were freed after the civil war and that was enough acknowledgement of African-American history.
Carter G. Woodson, the “Father of Black History Month”
In 1926, noted Black historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week in February, annually, to be known as “Negro History Week.” This particular week was selected because it contained the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and the birthday of Frederick Douglass, a noted Black American advocate for abolishing slavery (February 14).
Engraving From 1868 Featuring The American Writer And Former Slave, Frederick Douglass. Douglass Lived From 1818 Until 1895.
The initial Negro History Week in 1926 was received with limited recognition. The state departments of education in Delaware, North Carolina and West Virginia endorsed the observation as did the public school administrations of the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Carter G. Woodson wrote in The Negro Journal in support of the celebration: “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
Regardless of the lack of “official” support for Negro History Week, within the African-American community the reaction and response was dramatic and overwhelming. No matter the ignoring of this occasion by general society and the public school systems, Black churches, fraternal and social organizations and individual educators enthusiastically adopted the concept as an essential cause. It became a distinct and popular annual event involving competitions (both athletic and academic), enactments and festivities. Carter G. Woodson’s ideal instilled a sense of determination and pride within the Black community and race. This achievement earned him the title “Father of Black History Month.”
Adinkra symbolism, Africa!
Throughout the 1930’s, Negro History Week continued to grow in acceptance, slowly but surely. It contradicted the White American myth in the South’s “lost cause” that argued that slaves had been well-treated, fairly cared for and that the Civil War was nothing more than a war of “northern aggression.”
The ongoing development, growth and success of the original Negro History Week soon produced positive results not only within the Persons of Colour community but also in the society in general. The number of states recognizing the designation gradually increased as did the number of businesses, local and national, who identified the opportunity for expansion and increase of profits.
The first observance of the entire month of February as Black History Month occurred at Kent State University in 1970. Then-President Gerald Ford was the first president to acknowledge and publicly recognize Black History Month during the celebration of the USA bicentennial in 1976, fifty years following Carter G. Woodson’s and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History first Negro History Week observance.
President Barack Hussein Obama!
The twenty-first century has brought remarkable achievements to the contents of Black History Month. In November, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama was elected the very first African-American president of the USA – ever! His two terms of office were from January, 2009, until January, 2016.
Vice-President Kamela Harris!
In November, 2019, Kamela Harris was elected the very first woman vice-president and the first African-American vice-president. Her first term of office is from January, 2020, until January, 2024.
Carter G. Woodson is indeed proud of his Black History Month and the fact that his community’s history is still being made, today!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, February 3, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Photo Essay: Man-2-Man!”
The purpose of this posting is to share images of same gender loving (bisexual or gay) African-American men featuring their appreciation of the bare practitioner lifestyle. ReNude Pride is focused on both bisexual and gay men and nudity, so this is an appropriate occasion to honor those men and celebrate our similarities in our lifestyles!
What is today observed as Black History Month in the USA had a very limited and a very inauspicious beginning. It began in 1926 when Carter G. Woodson, an African-American historian and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History designated the second week of the month of February as “Negro History Week.” This week was chosen because it generally coincided with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14. Both dates were celebrated in Black communities since the late 19th century.
In commemoration of February being Black History Month here in the USA, a photo-oriented post showing some historical (vintage) images of Black gay bareness from days gone by. These are offered in the spirit of historical celebration and trying to document the tradition of gay, nude Black men in the recent history of African-Americans. Many of these photos date from the mid-20th century and often feature unnamed men whose life story, their personal history, is simply unknown and can only be speculation.
Author’s Note: This posting is offered in anticipation of February 7, and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It is published beforehand to allow readers to explore developments and opportunities for involvement prior to the actual date.
In the USA and several nations in the Caribbean, February 7, annually, is observed as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day for the communities of African descent to focus on the disproportionate (unequal) impact the current HIV/AIDS crisis is having on the various communities of African and Black heritage. This date is observed to bring the different communities and institutions together to explore ways to combat HIV infections and to replace ignorance with facts and knowledge.
Every year during the month of February, the USA observes Black History Month. This time is set aside in order that we, as a nation, take the time to celebrate, commemorate and pay tribute to the contributions, dynamics, energy, and direction offered by all of our African-American citizens of both the past and the present. For too long the accomplishments of this segment of our national heritage were often neglected and overlooked due to ignorance, fear and prejudice. Fortunately, in many places, that is no longer the case.
ReNude Pride 